Ongoing disputes between two neighbors ended tragically in SF Oceanview neighborhood

(SAN FRANCISCO) Two Chinese American men were found dead with gunshot wounds at two locations surrounding two homes in San Francisco's Oceanview neighborhood on the evening of April 20. Police investigators determined the incident was a murder-suicide.

Two men have been identified as Ying Yu Deng, 45, and Edgar Leung, 65. Both were residents of San Francisco. The Oceanview has become one of the largest Asian neighborhoods in San Francisco in the past decade. A number of the Chinese American neighbors living on the same block also identified both men were residents of two single family homes which were located next door to each other.

Information obtained by the Wind Newspaper indicated that a 7 years old boy called 911 to report the shooting that his dad was shot in the head.

According to the San Francisco Police Department, the murder-suicide incident occurred on Wednesday April 20, 2022, at approximately 6:12 PM. Police officers from Taraval Police Station responded to the 200 block of Farallones Street for a report of a shooting.

Officers arrived on scene and first located a 65-year-old male inside a vehicle suffering from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The male was taken to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.

While gathering evidence on scene, police officers obtained information that a second shooting victim was inside a residence also on the 200 block of Farallones Street close to the location where the 65-year-old male was found.

Police officers made entry into the home and located a 45-year-old male victim suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.

"The SFPD Homicide Detail is leading the investigation. Investigators believe that this is an isolated incident that stemmed from an ongoing dispute between neighbors where the suspect killed the victim and then took his own life," Police Department said in the statement.

Police investigators stayed at the scene all night gathering evidence and came back to the scene on the next day.

Police are not confirming the ownership of the firearm that was used in the murder.

The disputes between two men and their families were known to neighbors on the same block of Farallones Street.

Chinese American neighbors recalled seeing both men yelling at each other very often and very loudly in respects to street parking and washing their vehicles.

Two homes are located right next to each other side by side with almost the same layouts. The disputes had been ongoing for over 5 to 6 years.

Some non-Chinese neighbors told Wind Newspaper that both families would yell in Chinese at each other. Because of the language barrier, they could not understand what issues that they were fighting for.

However, all neighbors never expected that the disputes would end up tragically with a murder and suicide.

Eddie Wu, a Police Officer at SFPD and Founder of the Asian Peace Officers Foundation, advised the community members not to buy guns as a way for self protection. "Guns cannot solve problems," said Wu.

The foundation was formed in early 2021. Wu on behalf of the foundation has held a number of the Firearm Safety Classes in San Francisco to offer the classes in Chinese language.

"I started the firearm classes not to encourage people to buy guns, instead I ask them not to buy guns," said Wu.

Under the rising anti-Asian hate and violence sentiment nationwide, many Asian Americans have thought of buying guns to protect themselves. Wu disagreed and reaffirmed that guns would not bring peace to the Asian Americans.

"My focus is to let the community members know more about the liabilities that they will face if they decide to buy guns and as a result of it they have to fire their weapons," said Wu.

In the existing California laws, everyone who wants to purchase any firearm needs to pass the background check and a written test.

Wu alerted all the gun owners that they couldn't fire their weapons anytime only the exception that when their life would be in danger. "No matter if he or she shoots someone to death or be injured, the law enforcement agencies are required to investigate all gun shootings in their jurisdictions to determine if the shootings are necessary and justified," said Wu.

If the gun owners violate the laws, they would be prosecuted criminally. "In addition to the possible criminal charges, the gun owners will face civil lawsuits from the families of the people to be killed or injured. The gun owners might be found liable legally," Wu stated.

Putting a gun at home or in the office might not be safe. "The guns might be stolen by criminals. Or when the suspects break into the houses or offices and see the guns, they might take the guns to hurt you," Wu said there were many possibilities that the guns would be stolen and end up in the hands of the criminals.

Both men, Deng and Leung, were dead. It might be a mystery of why and what happened before the shootings. Wu speculated that there was anger between both men after a long period of time of dispute and arguments. Leung might think of having a gun to scare Deng away. On the day of the incident, once the dispute had escalated and heated, Leung might have used the gun to relieve his anger and shoot him.

"But after the shooting, the man knew that he had killed his neighbor. He realized that he would be in jail for the rest of his life. Then he might decide to use the gun to take his own life. It was very tragic," Wu sighed.